Time-delay electric switch



FIG. z.

FIG. 5. 15

J. J. FOLEY TIME DELAY ELECTRIC swITcH Filed Jan. 8, 1945 r INVENTOR.

. IEIEEPH T.F11H.

'Oct 2l, 1947.

E so w W g o B N Mw! ATTORNEVYS.

Patented Oct. 21, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEI TIME-DELAY ELECTRIC SWITCH Joseph J. Foley, Lincoln Park, Mich.

Application January 8, 1945, Serial No. 571,923

(Cl. 20G- 34) 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in operating means for delaying the action of conventional electric snap switches and the like. More specifically, it relates to such operating means which may be incorporated with the switch structure.

An important object of the invention is to provide an attachment for conventional snap switches and the like, which includes a dashpot and a, pin guide way which cooperate with a reciprocating pin to operate an electric switch.

Another importantobject is to provide a delayed operating means for a conventional electric switch which does not necessitate complicated nor unusual manipulations of the operating means on the part of the operator.

Still another important object is to provide such a. mechanism which comprises but few parts and none of them complicated.

A further important object is to provide a novel dashpot comprising a part of the operating attachment.

Other objects are to provide a dashpot so constructed and disposed, that it will not be apt to become clogged with foreign matter after a time, and to provide a slow-acting electric switch, the exterior operating portions of which do not project out beyond the surface of a wall more than does the conventional switch handle. In fact the projections of these exterior operating portions are lfar less than the conventional switch handle.

Still other objects are to provide an operating attachment which does not strike blows upon portions of conventional electric switch, which blows would be apt to damage such portions, to provide a switch assembly of pleasing exterior appearance and one which may be operated without any detailed instructions.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description of the invention, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, and in which drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the novel switch assembly.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof,

Fig. 3 isa view partly in top plan and partly in horizontal section of the same.

Fig. 4-is an elevation of the novel switch assembly but with a cover plate and structure carried thereby, removed.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section upon substantially the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of 2 the invention and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter A designates the combined switch structure including the conventional switch B and novel operating means C,

So as to 'depart as little as possible from the appearance and operation of a conventional electric switch, such as a wall switch, the exterior appearance of the combined switch structure A is as close as possible to that of a conventional wall switch.

The conventional switch B includes an unaltered toggle switch handle ID, adapted to be thrown by pressure of a nger or the thumb, the handle I0, having an exteriorly disposed portion II and interiorly disposed portion I2, preferably integral therewith. The latter includes a cylindrical plug I3 adapted to close one end of the dashpot to be described. Advantage is taken of the dashpot structure to cause portions of the latter to function additionally as a pivot means for this switch handle, as will be more fully detailed later. The interiorly-disposed portion I2 is provided with a socket I4 adapted to slidably receive a plunger or reciprocating pin I5 which projects from the socket I 4 and carries an expansion coil spring I6, one end of which bears against a suitable abutment, as a washer Il and the other end bears against a fixed collar, carried by the outer end portion I8 of the pin I5, and spaced a short distance inwardly from the outer extremity of the pin,

Associated with the pin is a conventional throw or trigger 20 which may be of dielectric material, carried by a housing 2l, preferably of dielectric material, provided with a slot 22 in which the throw 2i) is positioned but with one of its extremities 23 protruding from one end 24 of the housing 2 I. The throw has a curved or cam face 25 facing toward the pin I4 and it is over this face 25 that the extremity of the outer end portion I8 of the pin I5 rides. The extremity 23 of the throw 20 has fixed thereto a metallic post providing a pair of movable contacts 26, extending normal to the longitudinal axis of the throw and these contacts 26 are adapted to engage, when the throw is in the on position, a pair of spaced apart, iixed contacts 21 and 28, carried by the housing 2l, and connected, in any suitable way with electric conductors (not shown). The throw 20 is, of course, pivoted at its extremity opposite the extremity 23 and has a suitable conventional means for eiecting a snap action. This comprises a projecting portion 29 having an end faQ@ 3U and a flat face 3I against which face 30 bears a spring-urged pin 35 supported by a frame or support 35 which will now be described.

The frame or support 35' has two opposite end walls and a rear wall 31 joining the end walls. Preferably, there is no front wall, but there is a pair of flanges 33, extending outwardly from the walls 36 and substantially paralleling the wall 31. This frame or support 35' carries the housing 2i rearwardly of the rear wall 31 and has a slot 39 coinciding with kthe slot 22, as best shown in Figure 2, and through which the pin or plunger I5 and the projecting portion 2S of the throw 2U extend. An important feature is in positioning the throw 26 so that the curved or cam face 25, adjacent the projecting portion 29 of the throw 29, is in substantially the vertical planes of the extremities of an arcuate (concave) face of the rear wall 31 to be subsequently described. Bridging the walls 35 and spaced forwardly of the rear wall S1, is a support wall 49 for the cylinder of the dashpot to be subsequently described.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a portion 4I, arcuate in horizontal (transverse) section, of the rear wall 31. This portion begins at the lower edge of the slot 39 and extends downwardly a distance substantially equal to the distance travelled by the movable portion of the dashpot which is to be subsequently detailed. This curve in the wall 31 may be formed by providing a transverse slit 42 in the wall 31, with the slitl paralleling and below the slot 39, and then bowing the wall between the slot and slit, so that the portion 4| thus formed, will extend outwardly of the vertical plane of the wall 31 above and below the portion 4I.

The flanges 38 may be provided with spacedapart perforations aligning with similar perforations in a cover or wall plate 45 to be neXt described and to which the frame or support 35 is attached by suitable bolts or the like passing through the perforations.

This cover plate 45 is also provided with a. longitudinally (vertically) extending slot or opening d for accommodating portions of the dashpot (next described) and of the handle l5. The cover plate, of course, is adapted to cover the opening in a wall or the like provided to accommodate the combined switch structure A.

The dashpot structure includes telescoping cylinders 5) and 5I. The cylinder 5G or larger diameter has a closed lower end 52 having a small air passageway 53, preferably spaced from the axial center of the end 52. Into the open end 54 of the cylinder 5] extends the lower end 51 of the cylinder 5|, which latter cylinder has an open upper end 55 into which the cylindrical plug I3 of the interiorly-disposed portion l 2 of the handle l extends in a tight fit so that this cylinder 5| functions dually, as a part of the dashpot and as a pivot for the handle IQ.

At the lower end 51 for the cylinder 5I is an end wall. 53 having a central perforation, through which extends a vertical rod 59 having an enlargement at its lower end exteriorly of the cylinder d. This rod 59 is less in length than the length of the cylinder 55, as may be seen in Fig. 2. At the upper end of the rod 55 is an enlargement (as a nut) GS adapted to limit upward movement of the cylinder 5l and to bear against a disc valve member Si surrounding the rod 59 and suitably secured thereto. Below the valve member 5i is a second valve member 52 having a body portion and a neck portion 64, the latter extending into the central perforation in the end wall 58 of the cylinder 5I and secured to the end wall 53. The valve member 62 has a central bore S5, larger in diameter than the diameter of the rod 59 and the upper end of the body portion 53 abuts the lower face of the end wall 58 surrounding the central perforation therein. An expansion coil spring 66, or the like, is adapted to urge 'the cylinder 5| upwardly and is disposed within the cylinder 55, surrounding the rod 59. The cylinders 50 and 5| are adapted to be accommodated in the vertical slot 46 in Ithe cover plate 45 with the rear portion of the cylinder 5D engaging the support wall 4|! and may, if desired, be secured thereto. The lower end 52 of the cylinder 50 rests upon the lowermost wall of the slot 46 and as may be noted in Fig. 2, Vthe cylinders 5i) and 5| project outwardly of the cover plate 45 only a short distance. By narrowing slightly the width of the Lipper portion of the slot 46, a pair of shoulders 1i) are provided which engage the upper end of the cylinder 50 and thus longitudinal movement of the lower cylinder 50 is prevented. The walls of the slot 46 do not impede rotation or longitudinal sliding movement of the cylinder 5I.

It will be noted that the arcuate portion of the rear wall 31 is so disposed that its face farthest from the cover plate substantially parallels the vertical center line of the slot 46 of the cover plate.

When the upper cylinder 5| is in its highest position, the plunger or pin I5 may enter the slots 22 and 39 and bear against the cam surface 25. With the plunger I5 in abutment with the fiat face 3| of the projecting portion 29 of the throw 20 the switch is in the on position. Since the cam surface 25 is flush with the arcuate (concave) face of the portion 4| of the rear wall 31, this end of the plunger I5 is free to leave the slots 22 and 39. By grasping the handle I0 and drawing it downwardly, the dashpot cylinder 5| will also be drawn downwardly, telescoping with the dashpot cylinder 5U. Owing to the fact that air may pass by the valve `6I during upward and downward movement thereof, and that some of the air in cylinder 5!! may be expelled through the air passageway 53, telescoping of the cylinders may be eiected and the spring 66 compressed. The course of travel of the inner end of the plunger or pin I5 is indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4. That is, the course of travel is downwardly and gradually toward the longitudinal center line of the rear Wall 31 of the support or frame 35 until the limit of telescoping of cylinders 50 and 5| is reached, or until the handle I0 is released, whereupon the spring 66 will begin to urge the cylinder 5| upwardly thus increasing the size of the dashpot chamber and creating a vacuum which results in slowly drawing in air through the air passageway 53. Upward progress of the cylinder 5| carries with it the pin I5, the course of the end of which is upwardly and away from the longitudinal center line mentioned. Thus, as may be seen in Fig. 4, the course of travel described is substantially a V. When the end I9 of the plunger I5 reaches the slots 22 and 39 the spring will urge it thereinto and against the throw 20 and rotate the latter on its pivot so that opening of the switch is effected.

So as to provide for a very positive V-travel of the plunger I5, a V-shaped groove 15 may be provided in the arcuate face of the rear wall 31.

It is apparent that by a mere shifting in the position of the xed contacts 21 and 28, i. e. to the position of the end 23 of the throw 2|! in Fig. 3, a switch may be provided to eiect a slow closing of an electric circuit after the switch is thrown to an off position.

It is obvious that the switch handle l may be actuated to make and break an electric circuit, in the normal way, simply by throwing it to the left or right.

Although it is almost obvious how the switch may be actuated, without instructions, if desired, the cover plate 45 may be provided with suitable indicia, such as the words olf and on and 'arrows 16 and 1l associated with the conventional toggle movement of the switch, and the words time and ofi and arrow 18 associated .with the delayed action feature.

It will be noted, particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, that the operating means C does not project very far from the front of the cover plate `45 and, in fact, considerably less than the conventional handle I0. However, this projection of the operating means C is sufficient to employ the walls of the slot 46 and shoulders 10 to hold the dashpot in place without employing screws or like fastening means, and permits the air passageway 53 -to be disposed outwardly of the cover plate so that, if it becomes clogged, .it may be cleared without disassembling any part of the structure.

In addition to the reduction in number of parts mentioned above, the use of the upper cylinder l to provide the pivot for the handle l0, eliminates the need of a pivot pin for the former, and the plug I3 of the handle I0 provides a closure for the cylinder 5I, which handle may be removed and replaced in order to effect any adjustment or repairs of the dashpot assembly.

What is claimed is:

1. In a dashpot-controlled switch, a housing having a slot opening to its outer surface; a throw within said housing having an arcuate face with a portion of said face extending to the mouth of said slot; means pivoting said throw in said housing; and means to manually pivotally move said throw to either of two selected positions and to automatically pivotally move said throw from one of said selected positions to the other` selected position after an interval of time subsequent to manual movement of said throw to one position, including a handle having a socket, and a plunger in said socket, projecting from said handle and normally engaging said throw at its arcuate face; a dashpot having a xed cylinder and a combined telescoping and rotating cylinder, with said lastnamed cylinder fixedly carrying said handle, and a wall having an arcuate face engaged by the projecting end of said plunger when said plunger leaves said slot, said last-named arcuate face extending to said slot and with the vertical plane of a portion of said last-named arcuate face coinciding with the arcuate face of said throw.

2. In a dashpot-controlled switch, a housing having a slot opening to its outer surface; a throw within said housing having an arcuate face with a portion of said face extending to the mouth of said slot; means pivoting said throw in said housing; and means to manually pivotally move said throw to either of two selected positions and to automatically pivotally move said throw from one of said selected positions to the other selected position after an interval of time subsequent to manual movement of said throw to one position, including a handle having a socket, and a plunger in said socket, projecting from said handle and normally engaging said throw at its arcuate face; a dashpot having a xed cylinder and a combined telescoping and rotating cylinder, with said last-named cylinder iixedly carrying said handle, and a wall having an arcuate -face engaged by the projecting end of said plunger when said plunger leaves said slot, said last-named arcuate face extending to said slot and with the vertical plane of a portion of said last-named arcuate face coinciding with the arcuate face of said throw, the surface of said arcuate face of said wall being concave toward said plunger, said wall being arcuate in horizontal cross section.

3. In a dashpot-controlled switch, a housing having a slot opening to its outer surface; a throw within said housing having an arcuate face with a portion of said face extending to the mouth of said slot; means pivoting said throw in said housing; and means to manually pivotally move said throw to either of two selected positions and to automatically pivotally move said throw from one of said selected positions to the other selected position after an interval of time subsequent to manual movement of said throw to one position, including a handle having a socket, and a plunger in said socket, projecting from said handle and normally engaging said throw at its arcuate face; a dashpot having a iixed cylinder and a combined telescoping and rotating cylinder, with said last-named cylinder xedly carrying said handle, and a wall having an arcuate face engaged by the projecting end of said plunger when said plunger leaves said slot, said last-named arcuate face extending to said slot and with the vertical plane of a portion of said last-named arcuate face coinciding with the arcuate face of said throw, the surface of said arcuate face of said wall being concave toward said plunger, said wall being arcuate in horizontal cross section, and extending below said slot.

4. In a dashpot-controlled electric switch, a cover plate provided with a vertical slot having abutments at its side walls intermediate its upper and lower walls; a frame connected with said coverl plate to the rear thereof, having a vertical support wall; and means to manually selectively open and close said switch and to automatically open said switch after it is manually closed and after a time period subsequent to the manual closing thereof, including a dashpot having a fixed cylinder and a combined rotating and vertically telescoping cylinder, said fixed cylinder being disposed upon said lower wall of said slot and contacting said abutments and the lower portions of the side walls thereof, as well as said support wall, and said rotating and telescoping cylinder being disposed between the upper portions of said side walls and free to slide vertically therealong,

5. In a dashpot-controlled electric switch, a cover plate provided with a vertical slot having abutments at its side walls intermediate its upper and lower walls; a frame connected with said cover plate to the rear thereof, having a vertical support wall; and means to manually selectively open and close said switch and to automatically open said switch after it is manually closed and after a time period subsequent to the manual closing thereof, including a dashpot having a xed cylinder and a combined rotating and vertically telescoping cylinder, said fixed cylinder being disposed upon said lower wallof said slot and contacting said abutments and the lower portions of the side walls thereof, as well as said support wall, and said rotating and telescoping cylinder being disposed between the upper portions of said side walls and free to slide vertically therealong, said fixed cylinder having a bottom wall and an air passageway therethrough,

with said passageway to the front of the plane of the front face of said cover plate.

6. In a dashpot-controlled electric switch, a cover plate provided with a vertical slot having shoulders at its side walls intermediate its upper and lower walls; a frame supported by the cover plate and including a support wall rearwardly of said cover plate; a dashpot carried by the cover plate and frame, including a fixed cylinder, a combined rotating and telescoping cylinder and a spring normally urging said last-named cylinder upwardly, said xed cylinder being disposed upon said lower wall and contacting said shoulders and the lower portions of said side walls as well as said support wall, and said other cylinder being disposed between the upper portions of said side walls and free to slide vertically therealong; a handle carried by said rotating and telescoping cylinder including a portion within said slot; a plunger carried by said handle; a pivoted throw normally engaged by said plunger and having a cam surface over which said plunger is adapted to slide; and a wall having an arcuate surface over which said plunger is adapted to slide when free of said slot, said wall facing said cover plate and disposed to the rear thereof with the portion 8 of said arcuate wall, farthest from said cover plate, paralleling the vertical center line of said slot.

7. In a dashpot-controlled electric switch, a. wall plate, a toggle switch including a, rotatable handle extending outwardly of said plate and having a plug portion, a dashpot carried by said cover plate, including a pair of telescoping cylinders, one xed, and one of said cylinders being rotatable with respect to and slidable vertically within said xed cylinder, and provided with an open upper end, said handle being xedly mounted upon said rotatable and slidable cylinder with said plug portion disposed within and closing said open upper end.

JOSEPH J. FOLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA IEN TS Number Name Date 2,234,730 Sharp July 20, 1943 2,190,842 Kuhn Feb. 20, 1940 1,937,173 Taylor Nov. 28, 1933 

